Protector device for cigarettes in a package



Oct. 25, 1,938. H J CK 2,134,341

PROTECTOR DEVICE FOR CIGARETTES IN A PACKAGE Filed Aug 28, 1957 v I I I Afforneys Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PROTECTOR DEVICE FOR CIGARETTES IN A PACKAGE Harry J. Rock, Carteret, N. J. Application August 28, 1937, Serial No. 161,508

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a protective device for I cigarettes in a package, the general object of the invention being to provide a device placed in the package between the cigarettes and the tinfoil or inner wrapper and so constructed that it will protect the cigarettes from being crushed and which is provided with a flap which can be used for closing the open part of the package, after the same has been opened, this flap acting to prevent the cigarettes remaining in the package from drying out and keep dust and dirt from the cigarettes as well as to hold the cigarettes in place and to prevent loose tobacco from dropping from the package.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to be hereina-fter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the acompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a View showing the blank from which the device is formed.

Figure 2 is an end View of the device.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device.

Figure 4. is a perspective view of a packageof cigarettes having an end part opened and showing the flap of the invention in open position.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the device A is of inverted U-shape so as to extend over the side portions of the packed cigarettes and over the top portion thereof and this member is formed of a blank of cardboard or the like shown at B in Figure 1. The blank is provided with the longitudinally extending fold lines I which are spaced apart and extend from one end of the blank to the other and said blank includes an intermediate portion which forms the top of the device shown in Figures 2 and 3 and two end portions which form the side or leg portions of the device. The intermediate portion of the blank is separated from one leg by a transverse line which includes the outer slits 2 and the inner fold line 3. The intermediate portion is separated from the other leg portion by the two outer slits 4 and the intermediate perforated or weakened parts 5. Thus the blank can be folded on the lines 2 and 3 and the lines 4 and 5 to form the top and limbs of an inverted U-shaped member and then the parts are folded at right angles on the lines I so that each limb and the top part of the U-shaped member will be of channel-shaped form in cross section,

' invention will be readily apparent.

the upper corners of the flanges of the legs of the U-shaped member being overlapped by the flanges or side parts of the top of the U member as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Thus when this member or device is placed in 5 a cigarette package between the cigarette and the inner lining or tinfoil the top portion and the outer rows of the cigarettes will be embraced by the device and thus the cigarettes will be protected from being crushed. I 10 In order to enable the cigarettes to be reached when one end portion of the package is removed, as shown in Figure 4,1 form a flap F at one end of the top of the device. One end of the flap is 4 formed by the U-shaped slit 6 and the other end 15 is defined by a portion of one of the fold lines I, The side portions between the fold lines I. are defined by lines of perforations 5 and 5'.

As will be seen the free end of the flap extends down into a side flange of the top of the device and -20 one side of the flap, definedby the perforated line 5 and a part of the slit 6 extends along one end of the top of the device where said top joins a side of the device. Thus the flap is located under that part of the top of the cigarette pack- 35 age which is usually torn away to gain access to the cigarettes and after the top has been so torn away the flap F can be lifted and .a pull exerted thereon to disrupt the perforated lines 5 and 5'.

Then the flap can be raised to the position shown 30 in Figure 4 to enable one or more cigarettes to be taken from the package. After this has been done the flap is lowered and the free end bent and pressed downwardly into the package as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, it being understood that a free end portion of the flap has'a part of the fold lines I therein so that it can be readily bent on this line, as shown in Figure 4. This flap will not only hold remaining cigarettes in the package but it will prevent said cigarettes 40 becoming dry'and it also will prevent particles of tobacco from dropping from the package into the pocket or pocketbook of the users.

The flap can be defined by weakened lines or by cut lines as the manufacturer desires, or the 45 flap can be defined by both weakened lines and cut lines.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the It is to be'understood that changes may be made I in the construction and in the combination and arrangement ofv the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim. 65

of the side portions, and a flap formed at one end of the top portion, said flap having one end connected by a fold line with an edge of the top part of the top portion, the other end of the flap being folded and forming a portion of the adjacent flange of said top portion, said flap acting as a cover for the cigarettes when an opening is formed in the package above the flap.

HARRY J. ROCK. 

